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As for your first question, maybe "helping the community " is to much weight indeed?
What if start to helping just a few? There's definitely some people around who might need some help or encouragement.
And one more hint, if apart of saying thanks you would upvote someones comment as well - it would a little bit encrease Reputation of the lucky one )

You hit the nail right on the head! I have been trying to bite of more than I can chew. And I've been missing something obvious. I can use my votes to boost others' reputation scores. It's not as concrete as giving them a penny... but it definitely has value. Thanks!

I also have to say thank you, because your post inpired me to re-think "what am I doing here", with the result that some enlightning ideas came to my mind.